Stopper removing tool

ABSTRACT

A hand tool ( 1 ) for removing a stopper from a pressurized vessel (eg a bottle of sparkling wine) of a type where the stopper is retained by a wire cage, the wire cage including a wire band at or adjacent a neck ring on the vessel, the wire band being secured by a twisted portion terminating in a wire eye, the tool ( 1 ) including: a pair of elongate members ( 20   a,    20   b ) pivotally connected together, each member having a handle portion ( 21 ) and a jaw portion ( 22 ); a stopper-gripping portion comprising a tooth ( 27 ) on an inner side of each jaw portion ( 22 ), the stopper-gripping portions ( 27, 27 ), in use, gripping the stopper therebetween and cooperating to permit relative pivoting movement between the members ( 20   a,    20   b ) and the stopper substantially about a fulcrum axis defined by and extending between the two stopper-gripping portions ( 27,27 ), and a protrusion ( 24 ) at or adjacent at least one of the member ( 20   a,    20   b ) and adapted to be received in the wire eye when the stopper-gripping portions ( 27, 27 ) are engaged with the stopper.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool for removing stoppers. Apreferred form of the invention relates to a tool for removing stoppersretained by a wire cage in pressurized vessels, for example in bottlesof sparkling wine.

BACKGROUND

Sparkling wines, such as Champagne wines or the like, are closed by wayof a cork or plastic stopper held by a wire cage to resist the highinternal pressure. The wire cage covers the top of the stopper and isfixed on a ring provided on the neck of the bottle. The wire cagegenerally includes one or more wire strands twisted and bent to form acrown from which a number of legs protrude. Each leg presents a loop atits end into which passes a band that is secured below the neck ring ofthe bottle by a twisted portion terminating in a wire eye. The wire cageis typically covered by a foil cover.

To open the bottle, the foil cover is removed, then the wire eye graspedto untwist and release the band and so allow the wire cage to beremoved. Some care is required after removal of the wire cage to avoidhaving the stopper suddenly pop out of the bottle, possibly causingdamage or injury. Due to the low weight if the stopper and the very highpressure within the bottle, ejected stoppers can travel at high speedsand are dangerous projectiles, especially if allowed to escapeunexpectedly. Finally, the stopper is manually grasped and drawn out, ortwisted to break the static friction and allow the internal pressure todrive it out. Grasping the stopper, however, often requires reasonablestrength or the use of some type of tool to get better purchase on thestopper.

Because opening a bottle of sparkling wine often marks a significantoccasion, it is a task that should be achieved quickly, simply, andsafely. Various tools are known in the prior art for gripping thestopper or prying the stopper out once the wire cage has been removed.Removing the wire cage manually, however, is somewhat time consuming andcan be troublesome. Particularly at large gatherings and in commercialpremises, there is a need to rapidly open bottles quickly andefficiently.

It is an object of at least form of the present invention to go at leastsome way towards providing a tool which can be used to remove stoppersfrom pressurized containers, for example sparkling wine bottles, or toat least provide the public with a useful choice. Preferably the tool issuch that it enables one to achieve this in a reasonably quick, safe,and efficient manner.

If and when used herein, the word “comprises” is intended to convey“includes, but is not limited to”, and its derivatives have acorresponding meaning.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of exampleonly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides a hand tool for removing astopper from a pressurised vessel of a type where the stopper isretained by a wire cage, the wire cage including a wire band engaging aneck ring on the vessel, the wire band being secured by a twistedportion terminating in a wire eye, the tool including:

-   -   a pair of elongate members pivotally connected together, each        member having a handle portion and a jaw portion;    -   a stopper-gripping portion on an inner side of each jaw portion,        the stopper-gripping portions, in use, being suitable for        gripping the stopper therebetween and cooperating to permit        relative pivoting movement between the members and the stopper        substantially about a fulcrum axis defined by and extending        between the two stopper-gripping portions, and    -   a protrusion at or adjacent, and preferably fixed to, at least        one of the members and adapted so that it can be received in the        wire eye when the stopper-gripping portions are engaged with the        stopper.

Preferably the protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portionssuch that with the protrusion received in the wire eye and thestopper-gripping portions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the toolabout the stopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, bywhich action the wire band is either broken or forced over the neckring, thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portionsremain engaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage andstopper to be subsequently removed together simultaneously.

Preferably each stopper-gripping portion is integrally formed with itsrespective jaw portion. Optionally each stopper-gripping portion isattached to the jaw portion for pivoting relative to the jaw portion.

Preferably each stopper-gripping portion comprises an aperture,indentation, projection, pin, tooth or the like having astopper-engaging surface which is symmetrical about an inwardly-directedaxis. In this manner when the stopper-engaging surface is pressed intoengagement with the stopper, the relative pivoting movement ispermitted. While axisymmetric teeth are preferred, a stopper-grippingportion in the form of a circular aperture, for example, has also beenfound satisfactory since when firmly grasped by the jaw portions therelatively soft stopper bulges into the aperture to provide a fulcrum.

The tool may work on a lever-type principle whereby the head of thestopper and the stopper-gripping portions cooperate to provide thefulcrum, the offset of the handle from the stopper-gripping portionsprovides a first lever arm and the offset of the hook from thestopper-gripping portion provides a second lever arm. The fulcrum axisextends between the two stopper-gripping portions substantiallyperpendicular to an elongate axis of the handle portions. The handleportions and protrusion are preferably offset on opposing sides of thestopper-gripping portions such that pressing down on the handle portionsraises the protrusion. Relative pivoting movement between the tool andthe stopper is important to the preferred mode of operation of the tool,since firmly holding the stopper and relying upon deflection of thestopper to provide the fulcrum is likely to rupture the stopper,particularly one made of cork.

Preferably the protrusion is elongate and extends or may be extendedsubstantially parallel to an elongate axis of the handles. Theprotrusion is curved or hook-shaped, and for ease of reference ishereafter referred to as a hook. The end of the hook is preferablypointed to allow it to pierce a foil cap covering the wire and stopperand be pressed into the eye.

The preferred embodiment of the tool may further include a positioningabutment having an abutment surface for abutting the end face of thestopper. The positioning abutment may be fixed to at least one of thejaw portions, or alternatively may be formed as a separate component.The function of the positioning abutment is twofold: firstly, it assistsin correctly locating the stopper-gripping portion on the stopper.Secondly, it helps retain the cork in the tool during the removalprocess to further prevent the stopper from becoming a projectile.

Preferably each member is substantially rigid and formed in one piecewith a handle portion and a jaw portion at opposing ends thereof. Theends of the pair of members are preferably pivotally connected and theprotrusion is fixed at or adjacent an end of at least one of the jawportions. Optionally the projection is pivotally mounted for movementbetween an extended and retracted position.

In another aspect the present invention provides a hand tool forremoving a stopper from a sparkling wine bottle where the stopper isretained by a wire cage, the wire cage including a wire band engaging aneck ring on the vessel, the wire band being secured by a twistedportion terminating in a wire eye, the tool allowing the wire band to bereleased while maintaining gripping engagement with the stopper, thetool including:

-   -   a pair of elongate members pivotally connected together, each        member being substantially rigid and formed in one piece with a        handle portion and a jaw portion at opposing ends thereof, each        of the jaw portions having one stopper-gripping tooth integrally        formed therewith and at least one of the jaw portions having a        protrusion integrally formed therewith, wherein    -   each stopper-gripping tooth is axisymmetric and formed on an        inner side of each jaw portion for engagement with the stopper,        the two stopper-gripping teeth cooperating to permit relative        pivoting movement between the jaw portions and the stopper when        the stopper is gripped between the stopper-gripping teeth; and    -   the protrusion is positioned such that it may be received in the        wire eye when the stopper-gripping teeth are pressed into        gripping engagement with the stopper, such that pivoting the        tool about the engaged teeth tensions the twisted portion, by        which action the wire band is either broken or pried over the        neck ring, thus releasing the wire band while the        stopper-gripping portions remain engaged with the stopper and        thereby allowing the wire cage and stopper to be subsequently        removed together simultaneously.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method of removing a stopper from a pressurised vessel of thetype where the stopper is retained by a wire cage, the wire cageincluding a wire band engaging a neck ring on the vessel, the wire bandbeing secured by a twisted portion terminating in a wire eye, the methodincluding:

-   -   providing tool with a pair of elongate members pivotally        connected together, each member having a handle portion and a        jaw portion, each jaw portion having a stopper-gripping portion        on an inner side thereof for gripping the stopper; each tool        further including a protrusion fixed to at least one of the jaw        portions and adapted to be received in the wire eye for        tensioning the twisted portion;    -   passing the protrusion through the wire eye;    -   squeezing the handle portions together to engage the        stopper-gripping portions with the stopper;    -   pivoting the tool about a fulcrum formed between the two        stopper-gripping portions so as to tension the twisted portion        and either break the wire band or pull the wire band over the        neck ring, thus releasing the wire band while the        stopper-gripping portions remain engaged with the stopper, and    -   removing the stopper and wire cage together from the vessel.

The protrusion may be used to pierce a foil cap covering the wire andstopper, thus allowing the method to be used for removing the stopperwithout first removing the foil.

Preferably in manipulating the tool so as to tension the twisted portionand either break the wire band or pull the wire band over the neck ringthe tool is pivoted about a fulcrum formed between the twostopper-gripping portions.

Preferably before removing the stopper and wire from the vessel, themethod includes the further step of twisting the tool about alongitudinal axis of a passage in which the stopper is received toovercome any friction holding the stopper, thereby allowing the internalpressure to eject the stopper.

In addition to being engaged with the wire band, the stopper-grippingportion may also grip the wire, allowing the stopper, wire, and foil capto be retained together in the stopper-gripping portion.

Advantageously the tool may be used for opening highly pressurised winebottles, such Champagne wine bottles and the like. This tools iseffective and efficient in use, protecting surrounding people andobjects from flying stoppers by retaining the stopper in the tool, whilealso allowing stoppers to be simply and quickly removed. The tool may beeconomically constructed and has an overall simple design whichminimizes manufacturing costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description which is given by way of example only and withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a view from below of a first preferred embodiment of thetool of the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 1 b is a view from below of the tool of FIG. 1 a in a closedposition;

FIG. 1 c is a view from above of the tool of FIG. 1 b;

FIG. 1 d is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 e is section XX from FIG. 1 c;

FIG. 2 a is a part sectional view of a sparkling wine bottle;

FIGS. 2 b, 2 c and 2 d are pictorial views showing a first, second andthird steps respectively in the use of the tool of FIG. 1 a to remove astopper;

FIG. 3 a is a view from above of a second preferred embodiment of thetool of the present invention;

FIG. 3 b is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 3 a showing the hookextended;

FIG. 3 c is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 3 a showing the hookretracted;

FIG. 3 d is section YY from FIG. 3 a, and

FIG. 3 e is section ZZ from FIG. 3 a

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a first preferred embodiment of the tool 1 ofthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 a–1 e, and 2 a–2 d. Thetool 1 is used for quickly, simply and safely removing a stopper 10,from the neck 11 of a pressurised vessel such as a sparkling wine bottle12 (as illustrated in FIG. 2 a). As is typical of bottles of this typethe stopper 10 is retained by a wire cage 13 secured by a band 34 belowthe neck ring 35 by a twisted portion 36 terminating in a wire eye 14.The neck 11 has a longitudinal axis 17. The wire cage 13 is covered by afoil cover 16. The head of the stopper 10 protrudes from the end of theneck 11 and had side faces 18 elongated in the direction of thelongitudinal axis 17 and an outermost or end face 15 generally opposingthe opening end of the neck.

As best seen in the FIG. 1 a–1 c, this preferred embodiment of the tool1 generally includes a pair of elongate members 20 a, 20 b comprisingfirst member 20 a and second member 20 b. The two members 20 a, 20 b aregenerally alike in size, each member having an elongate handle portion21 at one end and a jaw portion 22 with a gripping tooth 27 at theopposing end. The two members 20 a, 20 b are connected at their ends bya pivot pin 23 to pivot about a pivot axis 29 between an open positionand a closed position. A protrusion or hook 24 may be fixed to eitherjaw portion 22, but in the embodiment illustrated is fixed to member 20b.

The teeth 27 have a conical surface for engaging the stopper 10 when thejaw portions 22 are pivoted to the closed position to close around thestopper 10. When the handle portions 21 are squeezed together to gripthe stopper in the jaw portions 22, the teeth 27 cooperate to form afulcrum about which relative pivoting movement is permitted between thetool 1 and the stopper 10. As shown in FIG. 1 b, in the closed position,the teeth 27 are generally aligned to provide a fulcrum axis 33 aboutwhich the tool 1 can rotate. The hook 24 is offset from the fulcrum axis33 and the fulcrum axis is substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 37 of the members 20 a, 20 b to avoid twisting thetool when it is used. While each tooth 27 is symmetrical about arespectively inwardly directed axis 44, it will be appreciated that theaxes 44 need not be aligned to provide the fulcrum and the tool can besatisfactorily used on stoppers of different diameters.

Each jaw portion 22 are separated from the handle portion 21 by a stop31. As seen in FIG. 1 b, the stops 31 abut to limit the closing movementof the members 20 a, 20 b. The tool 1 further includes an abutmentflange 28 which, in the preferred embodiment shown, is formed on themember 20 b. The abutment flange 28 extends inwardly with respect to thejaw portions 22 and provides an abutment surface 30 for abutting the endface of the stopper 10.

The hook 24 is elongated generally in the direction of the longitudinalaxis 37 of the members 20 a, 20 b. The hook 24 tapers from a pointed tip38 to the point it is fixed to the member 20 b. The tip 38 is turnedinwardly toward the abutment surface 30.

The members 20 a, 20 b may be moulded metal or plastic components andthe handle portions 21 may include grips 32 of elastomeric material forimproved ergonomics.

Referring to FIGS. 2 b–2 c, in use, with one hand holding the bottle 12and the other manipulating the tool 1, the hook 24 is pressed into theeye 14, piercing the foil cap 16 covering the wire 13 as necessary. Thetip is preferably pressed through the foil outside but immediatelyadjacent the wire eye 14, then under one side and out through the centreof the wire eye 14, thereby avoiding untwisting of the twisted portion36.

The handle portions 21 are then manipulated to open the jaw portions 22which are lowered until the end face 15 of the stopper 10 abuts thesurface 30 and the jaw portions 22 surround the head 10 the stopper 10(see FIG. 2 b). The handle portions 22 are then squeezed together topress the teeth 27 into the side faces 18 of the stopper 10.

With the tool 1 engaged in this manner, the user next pivots the tool 1relative to the bottle 12 in direction R about the fulcrum formedbetween the engaged teeth 27 (i.e. about fulcrum axis 33 which isgenerally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17) to tension andeither break the band 34 or move/pry the band 34 over the neck ring 35(see FIG. 2 c) This pivoting movement is best done by a sharp downwardmovement of the handle portions 21. It will be understood thatuntwisting the twisted portion 36 is to be avoided since it lengthensthe twisted portion 36 with a consequent risk that, when the tool 1 ispivoted in this manner, the stops 31 will strike and perhaps damage therim of the bottle 12.

Finally, while still gripping the stopper 10, a light twist of the tool1 about the axis 17 of the neck in direction T breaks the foil andovercomes any friction holding the stopper, allowing the internalpressure to assist in ejecting the stopper 10. As will be appreciated,the teeth 27, the hook 24 as well as the rest of the jaw portion 22retain the wire cage 13, foil cap 16 and stopper 10 together in onepiece 19.

The applicant has found through testing on sparkling wines from manyproducers that, in use, the band 34 is usually broken. Only very rarelyis the band 34 pried over the neck ring 35. The latter typically occurswhen the band 34 is made of a poor quality ductile wire or when the useris over cautious and the downward pivoting movement of the handleportions 21 is not sufficiently sharp, thereby allowing the wire tostretch rather than break.

A second preferred embodiment of the tool 101 is illustrated in FIGS. 3a–3 e and is adapted to be carried in the user's pocket. It differs fromthe first embodiment in the construction of the hook 124, the joining ofthe members 120 a, 120 b and abutment flanges 128, but is otherwisegenerally of like construction. The hook 124 is pivotally fixed,allowing it to be pivoted from the extended position (FIG. 3 b) where itextends from the end of the members 120 a, 120 b in the elongatedirection and may be used, to the retracted position (FIG. 3 c) byturning the hook 124 through approximately 180′. In this manner the toolmay be put in the retracted position when not in use e.g. allowing it tobe carried in the user's pocket without causing damage. While it will beappreciated that the hook could be fixed for pivoting in many ways, asillustrated the hook 124 has a shaft portion 150 received in an aperturein the members 120 a, 120 b and fixed by a retaining ring or circlip151. The members 120 a, 120 b are pivotally connected by the shaftportion 150. A spring-loaded ball type detent 152 is provided to holdthe hook 124 in both the extended and retracted positions and engages inrecesses in the shaft portion 150. The detent 152 includes a ball 153and spring 154 held in a recess 155 to member 120 a.

The tool 101 also differs from the first embodiment in the constructionof the abutment flanges 128, which are fixed to each end of the members120 a, 120 b. When the jaw portions 122 are closed (FIG. 3 a) orpartially closed, both abutment flanges 128 provide respective generallycoplanar surfaces 130 for abutting the top of the stopper 10. The tool101 is used in the same manner as described above, but of course thehook 124 is pivoted to its extended position before use and after use imay be retracted.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. A hand tool capable of removing a stopper from a pressurized vesselof a type where the stopper is retained by a wire cage, the wire cageincluding a wire band at or adjacent a neck ring on the vessel, the wireband being secured by a twisted portion terminating in a wire eye, thetool including: a pair of elongate members pivotally connected together,each member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; astopper-gripping portion on an inner side of each jaw portion, thestopper-gripping portions, in use, able to effectively grip the stoppertherebetween and cooperate to permit relative pivoting movement betweenthe members and the stopper substantially about a fulcrum axis definedby and extending between the two stopper-gripping portions, and the toolhaving a protrusion at or adjacent at least one of the members andadapted to be received in the wire eye when the stopper-grippingportions are engaged with the stopper.
 2. The tool of claim 1 whereinthe protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portions such thatwith the protrusion received in the wire eye and the stopper-grippingportions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the tool about thestopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, by which actionthe wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring, thusreleasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage and stopperto be subsequently removed simultaneously.
 3. The tool of claim 1,wherein the protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portions suchthat with the protrusion received in the wire eye and thestopper-gripping portions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the toolabout the stopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, bywhich action the wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring,thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage and stopperto be subsequently removed simultaneously, and wherein eachstopper-gripping portion has a stopper-engaging surface which issymmetrical about an inwardly directed axis.
 4. The tool of claim 1,wherein the protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portions suchthat with the protrusion received in the wire eye and thestopper-gripping portions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the toolabout the stopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, bywhich action the wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring,thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage and stopperto be subsequently removed simultaneously, and wherein eachstopper-gripping portion comprises a tooth.
 5. The tool of claim 1,wherein the protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portions suchthat with the protrusion received in the wire eye and thestopper-gripping portions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the toolabout the stopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, bywhich action the wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring,thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage and stopperto be subsequently removed simultaneously, and wherein the protrusion isan elongate pointed hook that extends or is able to extend substantiallyparallel to an elongate axis of the members.
 6. The tool of claim 1,wherein the protrusion is offset from the stopper-gripping portions suchthat with the protrusion received in the wire eye and thestopper-gripping portions engaged with the stopper, pivoting the toolabout the stopper-gripping portions tensions the twisted portion, bywhich action the wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring,thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allowing the wire cage and stopperto be subsequently removed simultaneously, and wherein the protrusion isan elongate pointed hook that extends or is able to extend substantiallyparallel to an elongate axis of the members, and wherein the fulcrumaxis extends substantially perpendicular to an elongate axis of thehandle portions.
 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the protrusion isoffset from the stopper-gripping portions such that with the protrusionreceived in the wire eye and the stopper-gripping portions engaged withthe stopper, pivoting the tool about the stopper-gripping portionstensions the twisted portion, by which action the wire band is eitherbroken or moved over the neck ring, thus releasing the wire band whilethe stopper-gripping portions remain engaged with the stopper andthereby allowing the wire cage and stopper to be subsequently removedsimultaneously, and wherein the handle portions and protrusion areoffset such that pressing down on the handle portions raises theprotrusion.
 8. The tool of claim 1, including at least one abutmentsurface able to abut an end face of the stopper when the tool is in use.9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the pair of members are pivotallyconnected.
 10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is fixed toat least one of the jaw portions.
 11. The tool of claim 1, wherein theprotrusion is fixed to at least one of the jaw portions, and wherein theprotrusion is pivotally mounted for movement between an extended and aretracted position.
 12. A hand tool for removing a stopper from asparkling wine bottle where the stopper is retained by a wire cage, thewire cage including a wire band at or adjacent a neck ring on thebottle, the wire band being secured by a twisted portion terminating ina wire eye, the tool allowing the wire band to be released whilemaintaining gripping engagement with the stopper, the tool including: apair of elongate members pivotally connected together, each member beingsubstantially rigid and formed in one piece having a handle portion anda jaw portion at opposing ends thereof each of the jaw portions having astopper-gripping tooth and at least one of the jaw portions having aprotrusion which does or which can extend therefrom, wherein eachstopper-gripping tooth is on an inner side of each respective jawportion for engagement with the stopper, the stopper-gripping teeth ableto cooperate to permit relative pivoting movement between the jawportions and the stopper when the stopper is gripped between thestopper-gripping teeth; and the protrusion is positioned such that itmay be received in the wire eye when the stopper-gripping teeth arepressed into gripping engagement with the stopper, such that pivotingthe tool about the teeth tensions the twisted portion, by which actionthe wire band is either broken or moved over the neck ring, thusreleasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper and thereby allow the wire cage and stopper tobe subsequently removed together simultaneously.
 13. A method ofremoving a stopper from a pressurised vessel of a type where the stopperis retained by a wire cage, the wire cage including a wire band at oradjacent a neck ring on a vessel, the wire band being secured by atwisted portion terminating in a wire eye, the method including:providing a tool with a pair of elongate members pivotally connectedtogether, each member having a stopper-gripping portion on an inner sidethereof for gripping the stopper; the tool further including aprotrusion at or adjacent one of the stopper-gripping portions andadapted to be received in the wire eye for tensioning the twistedportion; passing the protrusion though the wire eye; squeezing theelongate members together to engage the stopper-gripping portions withthe stopper; pivoting the tool about a fulcrum formed between the twostopper-gripping portions so as to tension the twisted portion andeither break the wire band or pull the wire band over the neck ring,thus releasing the wire band while the stopper-gripping portions remainengaged with the stopper, and removing the stopper and wire cagetogether from the vessel.
 14. The method of claim 13 including thefurther step of twisting the tool about a longitudinal axis of a passagein which the stopper is received to at least partially overcome anyfriction holding the stopper, thereby allowing the internal pressure toassist in ejecting the stopper.